The Mosquitos -"Do You Want To Hurt Me"
Long Island, New York's The Mosquitos released a 5 song EP of fine 60's influenced pop entitled "That Was Then, This Is Now!" on the Valhalla label in 1985 and then disappeared. The Mosquitos, who took their name from the band that appeared on an episode of "Gilligan's Island", were known for their blistering live shows (anybody have any mp3s or cd-rs?) and for writing the song "That Was Then, This is Now" that the regrouped Monkees turned into a Top 20 hit in 1986. The Mosquitos were Vance Brescia, (vocals/guitar), Steve Prisco (lead guitar/vocals), Iain Morrison (bass/vocals), Mitch Towse (drums), and Tony Millions (keybard/vocals).
The Mosquitos -"Do You Want To Hurt Me".mp3
47 Comments:
These guys were great! Whatever happened to them? Are any of the band memebrs out there?
I remember these guys. They played my college once, headlining over some local band from NJ. I remember that they were much...slicker live than this EP would have let on. Somewhat disappointing.
There have been at least two other bands called the Mosquitos since then - the best being from SF.
Vance Brescia is the Lead
guitarist/Music Director for Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone. The Noonatics love him. He's a great guy.
I was the guitarist for the Mosquitos. I have to agree that the EP was pretty bland and didn't capture the energy of the band's live performance. I also have to fes up and take the blame for the awful cover art.
Where are they now? As a previous poster notes, Vance is out and about as a member of Peter Noone's Herman's Hermits. Although it's been a while since we've talked, Iain no longer plays. Mitch is still active in a local band. I recently stopped playing, but invite you to search for The Bluebeats, my last band, a rocksteady outfit that released two CDs. I haven't been in touch with Millions in quite a while, but I would guess that he is still making music.
Will The Mosquitos EP EVER be released on cd?
Anonymous obviously does not know Vance Brescia. He is a cold heartless backstabber. He has certainly deluded those Herman's Hermits fans who think he's a great guy.
Message from Vance Brescia to Anonymous: If you know me that well, then you must have my phone number. Please call me and we can discuss your comments.
Hummm, has to be a message from cuz we all know that Vance is NOT computer oriented, and as Herman says, he doesn't have electricity , although there is a rumor that he has a ferret in his trousers...
hey vance!
if u get this, e-mail me, i want to talk to you.
Big fan,
Elizabeth
elizabeth_stewartson@yahoo.com
Elizabeth, this is your conscience speaking...if you know what's good for you, don't post here again. And leave Vance alone.
Anyone know where i can get an old Mosquitoes LP or CD... or anything?
To Anonymous From Vance Brescia, Funny rehash of somebody elses ferret joke, though highly un-original. If you have the balls, please contact me so we can chat about your assinine comments and maybe I can help you get some medication for your autism.
Okay Vance, what's yer phone number?
Wow, Tony, Steve, Vance, Blair all making appearances - maybe we'll see Wayne Manor soon.
Here's my 2 cents -- the Mosquitos should really put together a CD of their past recordings (and live recordings). I mean it. There's too much good stuff out there. I have no idea, but I suspect that band members might think the '80s recorded stuff is just demo quality, or other hang-ups. Remember, you were recording in the 1980's on Long Island - the biggest things going on where Amy Fisher and the "say you love Satan" kids. Of vourse there are problems, but so what? Bill Jones did the Secret Service a a solid by putting a bunch of recording together, and now I have people telling how much they love the CD (which I kept telling Jones would suck - maybe it does, but fans and other people like it). So, what do you say fellas, if Dean Martin could hug Jerry Lewis one Labor Day, can't Mosquitos get out a f'n compilation? Geez, it's been long enough (and no I'm not suggesting a reunion show, although I would probably go, if a get on the list . . .)
What was best about the band, among other things, was that they weren't afraid to really sing. Vance alone had a great voice, but the fact that Tony was able to sing back-up, and then the support from Steve and Ian, the Mosquitos were out there on their own. Added to the vocal talent was the Johnny Ramone rules of rock (unity on stage, no mucking about in between songs, a workman-like approach) to make it really come together. (I think the band lost a bit when the matching sweatshirts were no more). Anyway, it's gonna be a great record, right fellas?
I'll agree with Gange. It's high time there was a Mosquitos' anthology. I know there's tons of great live stuff out there, as well as some excellent studio material. (Not to mention some killer home demos.) And I say throw the videos onto the CD, too!
As to a reunion show... I'm all for it. To hear those songs again would be a real treat.
How about this: Do a show with The Mosquitos, The Secret Service, and The Plastic Device.
I just heard your song Vance at peternoone.com, one of Garys/Genes videos!
I think it's really SUPER, along with your HIGH kicks and guitar playing. Don't know you as a friend just yet, but I do know you as a FAN and so I'd say that anonymous should really watch their NUTTs and not be so squirrely, cause I have complete confidence that you could kick their BUTTs.
Love from a Noonatic!!
Cassie
That was then, this is now is such a fabulous song and I had the pleasure of seeing Vance sing it with Micky Dolenz at The Moondog earlier this year.WOW !!!
Although I can not claim to know Vance on a personal level I have seen him play with Peter Noone, many many times.He is a wonderful musician/showman and whenever I talk to him he is very much a gentleman.
So anonymous..stick that in your pipe and smoke it !!!!
Hey! A Mosquitos record just sold for $102 on ebay.
Hey all! Waz up?
My sister was a Huge Mosquitos groupie! Her & her friend ( who I think was a band members girlfriend at the time) went to every show on L.I. it seemed like! I was only 11 so all I could do was listen to the album & I loved it! I think I met Vance & some of the other guys one day with my sis at the East Northport train station. Anyway, I used to follow my sis around everywhere & thought it was the coolest thing in the world to know a real band!!!! What a dork, they may as well been the Stones to me! Oh yeah, my sister is on the back album cover, in the front or second row!
Vance , I saw you and Peter Noone at a Chili's bar and grill in the airport back in August. Remember I was the guy that asked you if you were in the band Warrant ? LOL.. you still gave me your autograph and that was cool ! Great website here . Rock on !! Ryan from Akron Ohio
Hi I'm Wayne Manor.
I just want Vance Brescia to know that I think he totally rocks.....
You Rule Baby
xoxo Sharona
Leave Vance alone. He is very talented, intelligent, AND nice (which is more than may be said for Anonymous),plus he is NOW in the best band ever, as a Noonatic with HH.
Ktdid007blond
Vance- You are sooooooooooooo sexy!
Love Ya
I'm trippin' reading these comments: Wayne, Gange, Vance, Blair, boys: it's a kick to read you! Peg here (channelling white fringe go-go dress!). Whatever may be said about the EP, The Mosquitos had charm, energy and talent - - more than can be said of many successful bands.
There is reason people do not post their names. It is usually because they are afraid of being proven wrong and don't want the public humiliation. Hey, Vance, great job for the 6 years I have known you! I am convinced you are one of the nicest people I know.
ShelleyCT
Yes boys - one more show for old times! I'll tune your guitars for ya - no charge!
Dave Wise
The Plastic Device, The Dogmatics, The Riddles
Hello Vance, I went with several friends to see you perform with Peter Noone in Chandler, Arizona. I loved the show and the exciting energy that you all put out there. It's obvious that you're a talented musician and such a nice person. You've inspired me to listen to more of your work.
Vance- When are you coming home I miss you
Ishkabibble Vance. How you doing Mr. Big? Your old friend INFANTINO
www.PlainOldBob.com
Wanna know what Vance Brescia is up to? check out www.myspace.com/vancebrescia
Talk about a blast from the past. I remember going to that hole in the wall bar in Huntington to see the boys play. I still have a 4th generation bar tape and the red t-shirt. It's amazing what kind of stuff you find when you move.
Vance you look great after all these years. I will always remember the skinny guy that the crowd used to shout for.
~Cheryl
Yeah, Vance ... lets do a reunion show. We might even let you do a leg kick or two for your fans. As far as I know we're all still alive - that's better than most bands from back in the day!
Does anyone know where I can get a list of every song The Mosquitos used to play live?
I need their originals, and their covers?
Is a list anywhere out there in cyberspace?
I doubt there's a list of songs the band did anywhere in Cyberspace, but I think maybe a few of us could take some time to look at old tapes and figure it out. On the other hand, Steve might be able to tell us himself! He seems to have a great archive of stuff.
Vance, Steve, Iain, Tony, and Pat/Mitch/Pete, please find a way to come together for a reunion. You'd make a ton of us REALLY happy. (Just as you did some 25 years ago.)
Finally, hi Wayne, Peggy, Scott, and everyone else from the old gang.
Checkout Vance Brescia's new website:
www.vancebrescia.com
Long live The Mosquitos...their timeless songs will never die. Another vote for a reunion show here too!!!!
Don't forget to see Vance playing with Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone...always a great show!!!
5/17/08
Good Job! :)
Hi all... working through ripping my 800 or so LPs and came across a minty crispy copy of That Was Then... Never had the pleasure of seeing the Mosquitos live but I bought the record-- in 1985 or 1986 at Newbury Comics in Cambridge.
The record is pretty catchy though I can definitely sense that a live show might have had considerably more energy.
Nice to see you guys still kicking around...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Man it would be AWESOME to see a reunion of the Mosquitos. I practically grew up watching them at Sparks on Long Island with Scotty Savitch. I found Vance's latest website, and he has some great songs on it, including a couple he covered with the Mosquitos. Check out:
http://www.vancebrescia.com/audio/lucky_clip.mp3
and
http://www.vancebrescia.com/vshop/vshop_hgs.shtml
and
http://www.vancebrescia.com/audio/secret_clip.mp3
Why I was looking up Vance at 2:30Am on Goggle is beyond me -- maybe just rehashing some fond memories of night huddled into Sparks with a bunch of other under-aged drunkards from Northport HS. Or watching Vance solo down at Gunther's...
Ahhhh... to be 17, angst-ridden, and disaffected in white, middle-class suburbia again!
The guys were the shit -- we loved 'em, and they were "ours"...
Nice to have found you guys again, hear you're alive and well. I know I told Vance this one night at a show in the Hamptons -- but to the rest of you: Thank you for giving us that time in our lives...
robert@highstrungproductions.com
Hey Tony millions email me at sdryan11b@gmail.com
I just met Vance on the airplane tonight. He is playing for Herman's hermits
The Mosquitos reunited for one song, "Slow Down", at Steve Prisco's numerically significant birthday party in East Northport in February. It was Pat Bishow on drums, Steve on guitar, Tony on vocals, and Iain on bass.
In May, they were back at the Crooked Rail for the big Sparks reunion. Same lineup, but with Mitch playing drums on some songs (and Pat taking some lead vocals), plus Tony playing some guitar. I'm still quite amazed that the guys invited me to play organ on Good Guys and Bits & Pieces. Tom Pfeiffer shared lead vocal duties with Tony for You Can't Judge A Book. Iain also got a lead vocal turn, as did Steve, who brought in a new cover (The Gants' My Baby Don't Care). They also brought up Vance for backing vocals on Bits & Pieces.
Another gig came at the Crooked Rail in August.
And another at Huntington Fall Fest the day before Columbus Day.
The next one is at Arlene's Grocery in Manhattan on January 16th, 2016, with Pat's son's band, Ace & the Gulls, plus The XL Kings (featuring Steve & Dan from the Plastic Device and Eamonn from the Fabians).
- Blair
https://www.facebook.com/events/1505492879744640
^^^ THE MOSQUITOS ARE BACK!!
This Saturday 1/16 @ Arlene's Grocery 7pm
First NYC show in 30 years!
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